Glasses protector

ABSTRACT

A glasses protector includes a pocket and a cover portion formed from a pliable material. The pocket contains the lenses of a pair of glasses, while allowing the temples of the glasses to remain outside the pocket. A cover portion closes the pocket and retains the lenses within the pocket. The temples are free to be used for another purpose, such as for hanging the glasses. A pair of magnets can be embedded in the glasses protector to keep the cover portion in the closed configuration to secure the glasses therein. The magnets can also be used to keep the glasses protector folded up for storage when not being used to protect glasses.

BACKGROUND

The field of the present disclosure is related to the protection ofglasses, such as prescription glasses or sunglasses having lenses thatcan easily be scratched if not protected. Prior methods and apparatusesfor protecting glasses can result in less than ideal protection andbulky products that can be difficult to store, especially when empty.

While protection devices for glasses may be effective at inhibitingscratches on the lenses of the glasses, it would be desirable to provideimprovements that result in an attractive, functional, multi-purpose,and easily storable protection device for glasses, and other featuresthat will become apparent from the following description.

SUMMARY

A glasses protector is provided that is lightweight, collapsible, easilystored when not in use, and provides abrasion resistance to a pair ofglasses. Oftentimes, when an owner of sunglasses is at a destination,such as a restaurant, for example, they may not always carry aprotective case for their glasses, because many protective cases arebulky and awkward to carry. Where the owner desires to stop wearingtheir glasses and store them temporarily, such as while eating, theywill oftentimes simply place them on a table, where there is theopportunity to scratch the glasses. The described protector is one thatis easily storable, such as in a pocket, handbag, or purse. Thedescribed protector collapses and folds into a small volume yet is ableto very quickly be used to protect glasses to provide scratchresistance. The glasses protector may be formed of a microfibermaterial, which provides scratch resistance to glasses carried thereinand can also be used to clean the lenses of the glasses. Furthermore,the glasses protector can be used to protect the lenses of the glasses,while allowing the temples of the glasses to remain available outsidethe glasses protector, such as for hanging the glasses or allowing theglasses within the protector to be placed upright on a table.

According to some embodiments, a protector for glasses includes a pocketfor receiving a rim portion of a pair of glasses, a cover portionextending from an upward edge of the pocket and configured to movebetween an open configuration in which the cover portion extends awayfrom the pocket, and a closed configuration in which the cover portionsis in contact with the pocket. A first magnet is disposed in a corner ofthe cover portion and a second magnet is disposed in a corner of thepocket. The first and second magnets cooperate to maintain the coverportion in the closed configuration. In some instances, the pocket doesnot receive the temple portions of the pair of glasses therein, butrather, leaves them outside the glasses protector and available foranother purpose, such as for hanging the glasses.

In some instances, an elastomeric retainer is configured to fit over theprotector for glasses. The elastomeric retainer may be an open or closedband. In some instances, the retainer may be an open band with a fixingstructure, such as hook and loop fastener, which can be used to maintainthe retainer in a closed loop configuration when the fixing structure isengaged.

In some embodiments, the cover portion is formed of a textile materialmeasuring less than one denier. For example, the cover portion may beformed of a microfiber material. In some instances, the protector forglasses comprises three layers of material. A first layer and a thirdlayer may be formed from the same material. Of course, they may also beformed of a different material.

An intermediate, or second, layer of material can be used to providestiffness to the protector for glasses in strategic locations. Forexample, the intermediate layer may be a plurality of discrete piecesarranged with a gap therebetween. In some instances, the gap provides aline of weakness to facilitate folding the first and third layers ofmaterial along the line of weakness.

In some cases, a chamber is formed in the corner of the cover portion tocontain the first magnet. The chamber may be formed, for example, bystitching. The first magnet has a polar axis and the chamber may beconfigured to inhibit the first magnet from rotating about an axis thatis transverse to the polar axis. In other words, the chamber may inhibitthe magnet from flipping over and swapping the orientation of the Northand South poles of the magnet.

According to some embodiments, a protective case for eyewear defines apocket formed of a pliable material. As used herein, the term “pliable”is a broad term and is used to refer to a material that is foldable.Materials such as cotton, microfiber, and other textile materials areexamples of a pliable material. The pocket defines an opening configuredto accept a rim and lenses of a pair of glasses. A pliable cover portionextends from the pocket and is configured to move from an openconfiguration in which the cover portion does not cover the opening to aclosed configuration in which the cover portion covers the opening. Afixing structure can be used to maintain the cover portion in the closedconfiguration. A fixing structure may be, for example, one or more pairsof magnets, hook and loop fastener, biasing materials, living hinges,and the like. The closed configuration is configured to encase the rimand lenses of the pair of glasses and a first and second temple of thepair of glasses are not encased in the protective case in the closedconfiguration.

In some cases, a first retention structure is associated with the pocketand a second retention structure is associated with the pliable coverportion. The first retention structure and the second retentionstructure cooperate to maintain the cover in the closed configuration.The first retention structure may be a first magnet and the secondretention structure may be a second magnet. The magnets may be anysuitable magnets, such as rare earth magnets, and can be arranged tocooperate to impart an attractive force to encourage the cover portionin the closed position.

In some cases, the first retention structure and the second retentionstructure are hook and loop fasteners that cooperate to encourage thecover portion to remain in the closed position.

In some cases, one or more stabilizers are incorporated to increase therigidity of the pocket, the cover portion, or both.

The protective case may be formed of an outer layer of material and aninner layer of material. One or more stabilizers may be sandwichedbetween the outer layer of material and the inner layer of material. Insome cases, the one or more stabilizers are discrete pieces of materialarranged to provide increased stiffness to certain portions of theprotective case. In some cases, the discrete pieces of material arearranged with a gap therebetween to provide a line of weakness thatfacilitates folding of the outer layer of material and the inner layerof material along the line of weakness.

According to some embodiments, a method of making a protective eyewearcase includes providing a first layer of pliable material in a generallyrectangular shape and providing a second layer of stabilizer material.The stabilizer material has a stiffness that is greater than the firstlayer of pliable material. The method further includes providing a thirdlayer of material having generally the same size and shape as the firstlayer of pliable material. The first layer of pliable material, thesecond layer of stabilizer material, and the third layer of material areaffixed together to form a rectangular blank. The layers of material maybe affixed through any suitable method, but in some cases, they areaffixed by stitching, fusing, adhering, or any combination of suitablemethods.

The method further includes folding the lower third of the rectangularblank upwardly and affixing the lower third of the rectangular blank toa middle third of the rectangular blank to form a pocket. Duringassembly, a pair of magnets can be inserted between the first layer ofpliable material and the third layer of material.

In some instances, the third layer of pliable material is a microfibertextile material. The first layer may also be a microfiber textilematerial, or some other suitable material.

In some embodiments, the second layer of stabilizer material includes aplurality of discrete pieces of stabilizer material. The discrete piecesof stabilizer material may be separated from one another by a gap, whichprovides a line of weakness in the blank to facilitate folding the lowerthird of the rectangular blank upwardly. Another gap may be formedbetween the pocket and the cover portion to facilitate the cover portionbeing folded downwardly into a closed position to cover the pocket.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A better understanding of the features, advantages and principles of thepresent disclosure will be obtained by reference to the followingdetailed description that sets forth illustrative embodiments, and theaccompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 shows a glasses protector with inserted sunglasses, in accordancewith some embodiments;

FIG. 2 shows a portion of a blank for making a glasses protector, inaccordance with some embodiments;

FIG. 3A shows a blank for making a glasses protector, in accordance withsome embodiments;

FIG. 3B shows a folded blank for making a glasses protector, inaccordance with some embodiments;

FIG. 4 shows an inside surface view of a glasses protector, inaccordance with some embodiments;

FIG. 5 shows a pair of glasses within a glasses protector, in accordancewith some embodiments;

FIG. 6 shows a pair of glasses within a glasses protector with aretainer, in accordance with some embodiments; and

FIG. 7 shows a glasses protector with a retainer in a foldedconfiguration, in accordance with some embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description provides a better understanding ofthe features and advantages of the inventions described in the presentdisclosure in accordance with the embodiments disclosed herein. Althoughthe detailed description includes many specific embodiments, these areprovided by way of example only and should not be construed as limitingthe scope of the inventions disclosed herein.

In general, most glasses, whether prescription glasses, sun glasses, orother type of glasses (collectively “glasses,” or “eye glasses”), have asimilar anatomy and comprise a frame and lenses. For example, a pair oflenses is held in place by a pair of rims. The rims extend at leastpartway, and typically all the way, around the lenses. The rims arecoupled together by a bridge that spans the distance therebetween. Thebridge supports pad arms, which carry a pair of nose pads which providesupport for the frame by resting on a wearer's nose. Two end piecesextend outwardly from the rim and connect the rims to the temples. Thetemples (or temple portions), are the long arms on the side of the framethat fit over the wearer's ears. The temples are connected to the endpieces by hinges, which allow the glasses to be configured in anoperating position, in which the temples extend rearwardly from therims, and a storage position, in which the temples are folded inwardlyand brought adjacent to the rims. Temple tips are the curved ends of thetemples that fit on a wearer's ears and provide a snug fit.

With reference to FIG. 1, a glasses protector 100 is shown with a pairof glasses 102 held therein. The glasses protector 100 includes a pocketportion 104 and a cover portion 106. The pocket portion is configured toreceive the lenses of a pair of glasses therein. The cover portion 106can be manipulated to fold over the pair of glasses within the pocketportion 104 to substantially cover the glasses 102 within the pocketportion, which may be referred to as a closed configuration. In theclosed configuration the glasses protector 100 substantially enclosesthe lenses of the pair of glasses and the frame holding the lenses, aswill be shown in later detail.

The cover portion 106 may be generally rectangular and the pocketportion may be generally rectangular when viewed in a plan view.Accordingly, the cover portion 106 may have two corners 110 a, 110 bthat are brought into proximity to pocket portion corners 112 a, 112 bwhen the glasses protector 100 is in the closed configuration. Thecorners 110 a, 110 b, and the pocket portion corners 112 a, 112 b mayhave cooperating closure devices to encourage the glasses protector 100to remain in a closed position.

In some cases, the closure devices are cooperating magnets. In somecases, the closure devices are hook and loop fastener. In some cases,the closure devices may be some other structure, material, adhesive,biasing member, or other arrangement that encourages the glassesprotector 100 to remain in a closed configuration.

As used herein, a closed configuration refers to the cover portion 106in close proximity to the pocket portion 104, such as when the coverportion 106 is folded such that it substantially covers the pocketportion 104. For ease of description throughout, the glasses protector100 will be referred to as having an inner surface and an outer surface.The outer surface includes the surfaces that are visible and accessiblewhen the glasses protector 100 is in a closed configuration. The innersurface denotes the surfaces that are not visible when the glassesprotector 100 is in a closed configuration. Thus, the cover portion 106has an inner surface and outer surface. Likewise, the pocket portion 104has an inner surface and an outer surface.

With reference to FIG. 2, a portion of a blank 200 is shown from which aglasses protector 100 can be assembled. In some cases, the blank 200comprises three layers of material that are sandwiched together to formthe blank 200. A first layer 202 may be shaped as a rectangle in someinstances. A second layer 204, which may comprise multiple pieces, ispositioned atop the first layer 202. A third layer (not shown), may besubstantially similar to the first layer 202 and is positioned on top ofthe second layer. The three layers may be bonded together, such as bysewing, adhesives, a fusible bonding agent (e.g., fusible tape, fusibleweb, fusible glue, etc.) chemical fusing, or some other suitablematerial or method.

In some cases, the first layer 202 is formed of a microfiber textilematerial. A microfiber textile material is a textile made from microsynthetic fibers. In many cases, a microfiber is a fiber less than onedenier or decitex/thread. A denier is effectively a measure of fiberthickness and is expressed as weight in grams per nine kilometers oflength. In many cases a microfiber has a diameter of less than about tenmicrometers. The microfibers may be any suitable synthetic material, butin some instances, are made from polyamides, polyesters, polypropylene,or any suitable material or combination of materials. The microfibersmay be formed into a fabric and shaped and sized to be used as a glassesprotector, as described herein.

The second layer 204 may be formed of a stabilizer material, and may beformed of any suitable natural or synthetic textile material. In somecases, the stabilizer is formed of a cotton or cotton polyester blend.Of course, other suitable stabilizer materials will become readilyapparent to one of skill in the art. In some instances, the stabilizermaterial adds strength, increased rigidity, stiffness, and/or thicknessto the glasses protector. While the second layer 204 is referred to as astabilizer material, it is equally applicable to use an interfacingmaterial, and for the purposes of this disclosure, interfacing materialand stabilizer material are synonymous.

The stabilizer material may be sewn onto the first layer 202 and/or thethird layer. Alternatively, or additionally, the stabilizer material maybe fused onto the first layer 202 and/or the third layer, such as byheat, pressure, adhesives, or a combination.

The stabilizer material may be formed in any suitable shape andpositioned to provide the benefits of increased rigidity in certainlocations within the blank 200. A first stabilizer 206 may be formed ofa generally rectangular shape with one or more cutouts. In someinstances, a first bridge cutout 208 is formed in one of the long sidesof the rectangle and may extend up to 50%, or 60%, or 70%, or 75% or 80%of the way through the first stabilizer. The first stabilizer 206 mayalso have one or more corner cutouts 210 which may facilitate thelocation of a fastening member. The corner cutouts 210 may be straight,arcuate, or take some other shape. The one or more corner cutouts 210are optional and may be created in one or more, or none of thestabilizers. The first stabilizer 206 may be secured to the first layer202 through any suitable technique, and may be located toward the upperportion of the first layer 202. In the illustrated configuration, theupper portion of the first layer will eventually become the coverportion 106.

A second stabilizer 212 may be secured generally to the middle of thefirst layer 202. The second stabilizer 212 may be generally rectangularand have a second bridge cutout 214, as will be described hereinafter.The second bridge cutout 214 may extend up to 50%, or 60%, or 70% ormore across the second stabilizer 212. The second stabilizer 212 may besecured to the first layer 202 in the same manner as the firststabilizer 206, or by a different method.

A third stabilizer 216 may be formed having a generally rectangularshape with one or more optional cutouts. As illustrated, a third bridgecutout 218 and one or more third corner cutouts 220 may be provided inthe third stabilizer 216. The third bridge cutout 218 may extend up to10%, or 20%, or 30%, or 40% or more across the third stabilizer 216. Thethird stabilizer 216 may be secured to the first layer 202 by anysuitable method, but in some cases is secured through stitching, orfusing, or both.

Of course, the cutouts, such as the corner cutouts and the bridgecutouts are optional, and some embodiments include more, or fewer,cutouts. The cutouts may also be oriented, located, and arranged indifferent alternatives to provide for preferential increased stiffnessin certain locations throughout the glasses protector.

As shown, the first stabilizer 206, second stabilizer 212, and thirdstabilizer 216 effectively divide the first layer 202 into thirds. Thestabilizers may be positioned to leave a gap between each stabilizer,thereby leaving one or more lines of the first layer 202 material thatare not stiffened by the stabilizer material. Consequently, the gapbetween the stabilizers will leave a line of weakness that facilitatesthe first layer 202 folding along the lines of weakness.

A third layer may be secured to the first layer 202 and/or the secondlayer 204. In some instances, the third layer may be formed from thesame material as the first layer 202. The edges of the first layer 202and the third layer may have finished edges to provide for frayresistance and a finished look.

During assembly of the blank 200, one or more closure mechanisms may beadded. In some examples, magnets can be added in strategic locations toallow the glasses protector 100 to remain in a closed configuration. Forexample, in the area of the first corner cutouts 210, one or moremagnets can be added to each corner. Similarly, in proximity to thethird stabilizer 216, one or more magnets can be added near the thirdcorner cutouts 220. The magnets may be any suitable permanent magnets,such as rare earth magnets, for example. The magnets may be in anysuitable shape and formed from any suitable material. In some examples,the magnets are round rare earth magnets and are sewn, adhered, orotherwise affixed into the blank.

With reference to FIG. 3A, a blank 200 is shown in which three layers ofmaterial have been sandwiched together and form a generally rectangularshape. The blank 200 may be any suitable size, but in some instance hasa width that is larger than a pair of glasses. As used herein, the term“glasses” is a broad term and is used to refer to eyewear, such asprescription glasses, sun glasses, reading glasses, or any other type ofeyewear that includes lenses that may get scratched. In some instances,the width W is within a range of from about 5 inches to about 8 inches,and more particularly, within a range of from about 5 inches to about 7inches, 5 inches to about 6.5 inches or some other width distance thatallows the glasses protector to provide the advantages descried herein.

The height H of the blank 200 is on the order of about 4 inches to about9 inches. In some instances, the height is about 6 to 7 inches. Theblank may be formed into the glasses protector, such as by folding thelower third 302 onto the middle third 304 about line 312 and fasteningthem together along their mating edges 308, 310. The lower third 302 andmiddle third 304 may be fastened through any suitable technique, but insome cases, is performed by stitching the sections together.

As shown in FIG. 3B, to assemble the blank 200 into the glassesprotector, the lower third 302 has been folded upwardly about line 312and affixed to the middle third 304 along their respective mating edges308, 310 to form a pocket 316. The pocket 316 is sized to hold the lensportion of a pair of glasses. The upper third 306, which forms the coverportion 106, can be folded downwardly about line 314 and the embeddedmagnets can be brought within proximity of one another and will attractone another to hold the cover portion 106 against the pocket portion 104in the closed configuration.

With reference to FIG. 4, a glasses protector 100 is shown, and theinner surface is viewable. As is shown, corner stitching 402 createschambers in which the magnets are secured as the third layer is securedto the first layer and the second layer. In some examples, the chambersare sized to securely house the magnets therein, such that the magnetsare maintained in a fixed rotational orientation. In other words, thechambers may be configured so that the magnets cannot rotate about anaxis transverse to the polar axis. Where a North pole of a magnet facesthe inner surface, the chambers may be configured so that the magnetcannot rotate to face its South pole toward the inner surface.

As illustrated, the corner stitching 402 may be in each of the fourcorners defined by the rectangular glasses protector 100. In thisconfiguration, as the cover portion 106 is brought downwardly over thepocket portion 104, the magnets in the corners can cooperate to maintainthe cover portion 106 in a closed configuration, thereby covering a pairof glasses disposed within the pocket 316.

In some embodiments, a magnet located in the top left corner has a samepolar orientation as a magnet located in the top right corner. Themagnets in the lower left and lower right corners can be orientated tocooperate with the magnets in the upper corners to form a magneticattraction therewith.

In other embodiments, a magnet located in a top left corner has adifferent polar orientation than a magnet located in the top rightcorner. As will be illustrated later in FIG. 7, this polar orientationfacilitates the glasses protector not only being maintained in a closedconfiguration through the magnetic bond, but also being folded about avertical axis 404, when not containing a pair of glasses therein, andmaintained in a folded configuration by cooperation of the magnets.

In some embodiments, the material selected for the inner surface may bedifferent than the material selected for the outer surface. For example,the inner surface material (e.g., the third layer), may be selected toprovide cushioning, abrasion resistance, or some other characteristicbeneficial to a pair of glasses placed therein. For example, where theinner surface is formed of a microfiber material, the inner surface maybe used to clean the glasses since it reduces the risk of abrading orscratching the lenses of the glasses. Of course, the outer surface maylikewise be formed of a microfiber material, but may also be formed ofanother suitable material. For example, in some instances, the outersurface may be formed of a material such as leather, denim, cotton, or asynthetic fiber material, to name a few.

FIG. 5 illustrates some embodiments of a glasses protector 100 with apair of glasses contained therein. The glasses contain a rim, alsoreferred to as a lens frame portion that hold the lenses in place, thatis substantially enclosed in the glasses protector 100 when the glassesprotector 100 is in a closed configuration, as illustrated. The glassesalso contain a pair of temple portions 502 that extend from oppositeends of the rim. As illustrated, the temple portions 502 are extendedrearwardly from the rim. The rim has two opposing end pieces where thetemple portions 502 are hingedly attached to the rim and can beconfigured in an operable orientation, as illustrated, or in a storageorientation, where the temple portions are moved about the hingeconnection to be adjacent the rim.

FIG. 6 illustrates some embodiments of a glasses protector 100 with apair of glasses contained therein. As illustrated, the rim of theglasses is substantially contained within the glasses protector 100 andthe temple portions 502 are outside the glasses protector 100. Aretainer 602 is shown applied around the glasses protector 100 and thetemple portions 502. The retainer 602 may be formed of, or contain, anelastomeric material. The retainer 602 may be fit over the glassesprotector 100 and may be used to retain the temple portions 502 in thestorage orientation, as illustrated. Alternatively, the retainer 602 maybe fitted onto the glasses protector 100 and not around the templeportions 502, such as for hanging the glasses by the temple portions. Itis common for glasses to be temporarily stored on top of a wearer's heador hanging by the temple portions, such as hanging from a shirt, hat, orother item of apparel. To facilitate this type of temporary storage, oneor both of the temple portions 502 may not be retained by the retainer602, but rather, remain free to be used for another purpose.

As illustrated, the retainer 602 may compress the glasses protector 100around the approximate middle. This is facilitated by one or more of thefirst bridge cutout 208, second bridge cutout 214, and the third bridgecutout 218 from the respective stabilizer. By removing stabilizermaterial, as described, the retainer is allowed to compress the glassesprotector 100, thereby providing a secure closure and retainment of theeyewear within the glasses protector 100. The retainer 602 mayadditionally provide some cushioning to the glasses within. For example,the retainer 602 may be formed of a cushioning material that may provideimproved protection from accidental impacts with the eyewear within theglasses protector.

With reference to FIG. 7, the glasses protector 100 is shown withoutglasses therein, and in a folded orientation. The folded orientation isaccomplished by folding the glasses protector 100 about its verticalaxis 404 (from FIG. 4). The fastening members (e.g., magnets, hook andloop, etc.), may be provided at two or more corners of the glassesprotector 100 for engaging once the glasses protector 100 is configuredin its folded configuration. In some examples, magnets at the cornersare brought together as the glasses protector 100 is folded, whichengage through magnetic attraction to maintain the glasses protector 100in its folded orientation.

The retainer 602 may remain in place on the glasses protector and can beused, for example, to hang the glasses protector 100, to facilitate easyremoval of the glasses protector from a pocket or handbag. The retainer602 may be removable from the glasses protector 100 or may be affixedthereto.

The glasses protector 100 may have any sort of ornamentation appliedthereto. For example, a company logo, a sports team, a school mascot orlogo, a name, a slogan, or any other sort of indicia may be applied tothe glasses protector 100. In some instances, the glasses protector maybe ornamented by heat embossing, painting, screen printing, embroidery,indicia affixed thereto such as by heat bonding, adhesives, sewing, andthe like. In short, any sort of ornamentation or indicia may be presenton the glasses protector.

In use, the cover portion 106 is raised, thereby exposing the pocket. Apair of glasses, specifically the bow portion, is placed within thepocket. The cover portion 106 can be lowered and the engagementstructure on the cover portion 106 interacts with cooperating engagementstructure on the pocket portion to encourage the cover portion 106 toremain in a closed configuration. The retainer 602 may be affixed to theglasses protector 100, such as by sliding the retainer over the glassesprotector 100, and optionally over one or both of the temple portions ofthe glasses.

A person of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that any process ormethod disclosed herein can be modified in many ways. The processparameters and sequence of the steps described and/or illustrated hereinare given by way of example only and can be varied as desired. Forexample, while the steps illustrated and/or described herein may beshown or discussed in a particular order, these steps do not necessarilyneed to be performed in the order illustrated or discussed.

The various exemplary methods described and/or illustrated herein mayalso omit one or more of the steps described or illustrated herein orcomprise additional steps in addition to those disclosed. Further, astep of any method as disclosed herein can be combined with any one ormore steps of any other method as disclosed herein.

Unless otherwise noted, the terms “connected to” and “coupled to” (andtheir derivatives), as used in the specification and claims, are to beconstrued as permitting both direct and indirect (i.e., via otherelements or components) connection. In addition, the terms “a” or “an,”as used in the specification and claims, are to be construed as meaning“at least one of” Finally, for ease of use, the terms “including” and“having” (and their derivatives), as used in the specification andclaims, are interchangeable with and shall have the same meaning as theword “comprising.

As used herein, the term “or” is used inclusively to refer to items inthe alternative and in combination.

As used herein, characters such as numerals refer to like elements.

Embodiments of the present disclosure have been shown and described asset forth herein and are provided by way of example only. One ofordinary skill in the art will recognize numerous adaptations, changes,variations and substitutions without departing from the scope of thepresent disclosure. Several alternatives and combinations of theembodiments disclosed herein may be utilized without departing from thescope of the present disclosure and the inventions disclosed herein.Therefore, the scope of the presently disclosed inventions shall bedefined solely by the scope of the appended claims and the equivalentsthereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. A protector for glasses, comprising: a pocket forreceiving a rim and lenses portion of a pair of glasses; a cover portionextending from an upward edge of the pocket and configured to movebetween an open configuration in which the cover portion extends awayfrom the pocket, and a closed configuration in which the cover portionsis in contact with the pocket; a first magnet disposed in a corner ofthe cover portion; a second magnet disposed in a corner of the pocketand cooperable with the first magnet to maintain the cover portion inthe closed configuration; and wherein the pocket is configured to notreceive one or more temple portions of the pair of glasses therein. 2.The protector for glasses of claim 1, further comprising an elastomericretainer configured to fit over the protector for glasses.
 3. Theprotector for glasses as in claim 1, wherein the cover portion is formedof a textile material having fibers measuring less than one denier. 4.The protector for glasses as in claim 1, wherein the protector forglasses comprises three layers of material.
 5. The protector for glassesas in claim 4, wherein a first layer and a third layer are formed fromthe same material.
 6. The protector for glasses as in claim 4, whereinan intermediate layer of material provides stiffness to the protectorfor glasses.
 7. The protector for glasses as in claim 6, wherein theintermediate layer comprises a plurality of discrete pieces arrangedwith a gap therebetween.
 8. The protector for glasses as in claim 7,wherein the gap provides a line of weakness to facilitate folding alongthe line of weakness.
 9. The protector for glasses as in claim 1,further comprising a chamber in the corner of the cover portion tocontain the first magnet.
 10. The protector for glasses as in claim 9,wherein the first magnet has a polar axis and the chamber is configuredto inhibit the first magnet from rotating about an axis that istransverse to the polar axis.
 11. A protective case for eyewear,comprising: a pocket formed of a pliable material, the pocket definingan opening configured to accept a rim and lenses of a pair of glasses; apliable cover portion extending from the pocket and configured to movefrom an open configuration in which the cover portion does not cover theopening to a closed configuration in which the cover portion covers theopening; and a fixing structure that maintains the cover portion in theclosed configuration, wherein the closed configuration is configured toencase the frame and lenses of the pair of glasses and a first andsecond temple of the pair of glasses are not encased in the closedconfiguration.
 12. The protective case for eyewear as in claim 11,further comprising a first retention structure associated with thepocket and a second retention structure associated with the pliablecover portion, wherein the first retention structure and the secondretention structure cooperate to maintain the cover in the closedconfiguration.
 13. The protective case for eyewear as in claim 12,wherein the first retention structure is a first magnet and the secondretention structure is a second magnet.
 14. The protective case foreyewear as in claim 12, wherein the first retention structure and thesecond retention structure are hook and loop fasteners.
 15. Theprotective case for eyewear as in claim 11, further comprising one ormore stabilizers that increase rigidity of the pocket.
 16. Theprotective case for eyewear as in claim 15, wherein the protective caseis formed of an outer layer of material and an inner layer of material,and the one or more stabilizers are sandwiched between the outer layerof material and the inner layer of material.
 17. A method of making aprotective eyewear case, comprising: providing a first layer of pliablematerial in a generally rectangular shape; providing a second layer ofstabilizer material, the stabilizer material having a stiffness that isgreater than the first layer of pliable material; providing a thirdlayer of material having generally the same size and shape as the firstlayer of pliable material; affixing the first layer of pliable material,the second layer of stabilizer material, and the third layer of materialtogether to form a rectangular blank; and folding the lower third of therectangular blank upwardly and affixing the lower third of therectangular blank to a middle third of the rectangular blank to form apocket.
 18. The method of claim 17, further comprising disposing atleast a pair of magnets between the first layer of pliable material andthe third layer of material.
 19. The method of claim 17, wherein thethird layer of pliable material is a microfiber textile material. 20.The method of claim 17, wherein providing the second layer of stabilizermaterial comprises providing a plurality of discrete pieces ofstabilizer material, the discrete pieces of stabilizer materialseparated from one another by a gap, the gap providing a line ofweakness in the blank to facilitate folding the lower third of therectangular blank upwardly.